Magnum Research .44 Magnum & .50 AE & A “13 Hours” Desert Eagle

in Authors, Clay Martin, Gun Reviews, Handguns, Semi-Autos

Why would you spend your hard earned money on a Kahr Arms Desert Eagle in .50 AE or .44 Magnum? Mostly because they’re fun as hell to shoot. This week in honor of Veterans Day, we had the opportunity to shed light on a worthy cause and spend some time on the range with two Magnum Research Desert Eagles.

***CLICK HERE TO BID NOW***

The full set of the “13 Hours” Desert Eagles.

You can see my full review of one last year at about this time here. The Desert Eagle we have in house right now provides a much better reason. The proceeds are going to support the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, one of the former U.S. Navy SEALs killed in Benghazi. This is a cause near and dear to my heart, one that I am happy to shed light on. Glen or “Bub” Doherty was one of the four Americans killed in 2012 during the assault on the embassy in Benghazi. John Tig Tiegen, co-author of “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi” teamed up with Kahr Arm and Magnum Research to auction 13 custom “13 Hours” Desert Eagles. This week we got our hands on the fourth one-of-a-kind pistol.

As much as I wish the proceeds were going to fund the prosecution of Hillary, the actual mission of the organization is a winner too. For more details about the pistol and how to enter the auction to raise money for Doherty’s foundation, click here. Here is a brief overview of their mission statement and focus:

OUR MISSION:  To ease the transition from military life and work to that of a civilian by helping fund educational costs for Special Operation individuals and their children.  We do this knowing Glen’s spirit will continue to touch us all.

OUR FOCUS:  Our focus is on providing current and former special operations professionals, from all branches of the government, the means necessary to transition and succeed in civilian life.  We are also enabling the children and families of these soldiers the ability to mature and grow through recreation. We employ the following tools to achieve our goals:

  • Scholarships for current or former Special Operation Professionals used for traditional education
     

  • Scholarships for current or former Special Operations Professionals used for vocational and non-traditional training
     

  • Subsidies and grants for the children of Special Operations Professionals to attend camps that build leadership
     

  • Gifts for the families of Special Operations Professionals and Foreign Service Officers, where a loss or life-changing debilitating injury has been suffered, to be used for recreation as a way of supporting the family unit through positive outdoor activities.”

 

People don’t realize how difficult the transition to normal life can be for Special Operations personnel. Most times, anyone in SOF has been doing that job for a long time. That can make the transition back to normal civilian life difficult. But even more challenging is the gap in care after switching to the VA system. Years ago, I remember helping raise money for a Force Recon Marine that had burns over 90% of his body, and subsequently lost 3 limbs. He needed a specially built house to even be able to live outside of a hospital. The funds had to be raised by private means, it was outside the care prescribed by the government. It’s not always the most helpful system, so it’s important that organizations like Glen’s exist.

***CLICK HERE TO BID NOW***

Article Continues Below

Range Time with the .44 Magnum & .50 AE

We weren’t allowed to shoot the auction pistol, so I spent time on the range with the Magnum Research Case Hardened Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum and a Magnum Research Desert Eagle Black in .50 AE. Both pistols performed flawlessly and I enjoyed ringing steel out to 40 meters. There’s something about shooting a semiautomatic hand cannon on the range that will leave you laughing and wishing you had brought more ammo.

How was the recoil? It was substantial as you’d expect from a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum and .50 AE, but Magnum Research has been designing these pistols for a long time and thanks to their dual recoil springs, it helps eat up some of the recoil. There’s also something ingenious about the design — you can swap out the barrel and magazine with Magnum Research’s caliber conversion kits . In a matter of minutes, you can go from a .44 Magnum to a .50 AE.

SPECS

  • Type: Gas-operated, rotating lug semiautomatic pistol
  • Cartridge: .50 Action Express
  • Capacity: 7+1 rds.
  • Barrel: 6 in.
  • Overall Length: 10.75 inches
  • Weight: 4 lbs., 5.8 oz.
  • Sights: Fixed, combat style
  • Finish: Black
  • MSRP: $1,604
  • Manufacturer: Magnum Research Inc.

 

  • Type: Gas-operated, rotating lug semiautomatic pistol
  • Cartridge: .44 Magnum
  • Capacity: 8+1 rds.
  • Barrel: 6 in.
  • Overall Length: 10.75 in.
  • Weight: 4 lbs., 6.6 oz.
  • Sights: Fixed combat style
  • Finish: Black oxide and various custom finishes
  • MSRP: $2,278
  • Manufacturer: Magnum Research Inc.

Help Us Raise Support

Here is a chance to do your part and help an incredible cause. The auction is open until November 13th. This custom-finished and engraved Desert Eagle is spectacular. It has a unique Kryptek Typhon Cerakote, and is one of a limited edition of just 13. This pistol is Number Four, and it’s one of many that is raising support for a great cause. The auction on GunsAmerica is part of a larger effort to support veterans spearheaded by Magnum Research, a subsidiary of Kahr Firearms Group and manufacturer of the iconic Desert Eagle, and author John “Tig” Tiegen.

***CLICK HERE TO BID NOW***

For more information about Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistols, click here.

For more information about Freedom Munitions, click here.

To enter in the auction of the Glen Doherty foundation’s Magnum Research pistol, click here.

About the author: Clay Martin is a former Marine and Green Beret, retiring out of 3rd Special Forces Group. He is a multi-decade and -service sniper, as well as 3-Gun competitor and Master ranked shooter in USPSA Production. In addition to writing about guns, he is the author of “Last Son of The War God,” a novel about shooting people that deserve it. You can also follow him on twitter, @offthe_res or his website, Off-The-Reservation.com

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  • Bill July 8, 2019, 8:44 am

    No accuracy, velocity, energy calculated nor what ammo was unused? What a lost opportunity! Not up to the standards expected!

  • mtman2 November 6, 2017, 10:50 pm

    – As they often times say – “sweet” ……..

  • Jim Guidry November 6, 2017, 10:29 pm

    Having owned a model XIX for close to a year, I can tell you that the gun is a ball at the range. Practical? Hell no, but the most fun you’ve had in awhile. It is so easy to use after playing with the big S&W .500, and is guaranteed to leave you with a grin.

  • Russ H. November 6, 2017, 5:25 pm

    WOW! Always wanted one of these, just haven\’t gotten around to it yet. One of these days… Can\’t help but wonder where all the naysayers are bitching about weight, how impractical it is, blah, blah, blah. Don\’t buy it if you don\’t want it. Great cause Kahr and MR have supported – I would love to have one of these commemorative pistols. My wife has a MR Baby Desert Eagle in 45, DA/SA, all steel, very nice pistol (once you install a lighter mainspring). Anyway, well done Kahr and MR!

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